Guide and support mechanism for boat trailers

ABSTRACT

A bow guide and support mechanism adapted for transverse mounting near the front end of a boat trailer frame-work is described. The support mechanism comprises a V-block member symmetrically affixed against one side of which is an elongated cylindrical guide member bent to define an obtuse angle of somewhat lesser included angle than that defined by the V-block member, the cylindrical guide member having its apex portion lying below the apex of the included angle of the V-block member and being so positioned that outwardly extending arm portions of the cylindrical guide member project upwardly from and with respect to outer surface portions of the V-block member defining its obtuse angle. The outwardly extending arm portions of the cylindrical guide member extend substantially beyond the transverse outer ends of the V-block member at each side of the trailer to serve as extended guide means for centering the bow of a boat to be trailered upon the V-block member when being loaded.

United States Patent 1191 Whitley, Jr.

[451 Mar. 25, 1975 GUIDE AND SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR BOAT TRAILERS [76] Inventor: William P. Whitley, Jr., 4525 E.

10th Ln., Hialeah, Fla. 33013 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 [211 Appl. No.: 444,716

Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest H. Schmidt [57] 1 ABSTRACT A bow guide and support mechanism adapted for transverse mounting near the front end of a boat trailer frame-work is described. The support mechanism comprises a V-block member symmetrically affixed against one side of which is an elongated cylindrical guide member bent to define an obtuse angle of somewhat lesser included angle than that defined by the V-block member, the cylindrical guide member having its apex portion lying below the apex of the included angle of the V-block member and being so positioned that outwardly extending arm portions of the cylindrical guide member project upwardly from and with respect to outer surface portions of the V-block member defining its obtuse angle. The outwardly extending arm portions of the cylindrical guide member extend substantially beyond the transverse outer ends of the V-block member at each side of the trailer to serve as extended guide means for centering the bow of a boat to be trailered upon the V-block member when being loaded.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures GUIDE AND SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR BOAT TRAILERS This invention relates to boat trailers and is directed particularly to a novel and improved bow guide and support mechanism therefor.

Heretofore, various kindsof V-shaped grooves or the like have been provided in the boat support device in boat trailers, particularly pleasure boat trailers. Such devices have been provided not only serve as an aid in guiding the prow of the boat into proper centrallyaligned position on the trailer in loading and unloading of a trailered boat, but also serve to support and maintain the craft in properly located position while being trailered.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved bow guide and support mechanism of the character described that is operable over a substantially greater range of boat misalignment, particularly during the loading of a boat on the trailer, thereby simplifying and rendering less critical the loading operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat loading device of the character described that can readily be applied as an accessory device to ordinary limited control bow guide mechanisms to substantially extend their operational capability.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a boat guide device of the above nature wherein the coefficient of friction at the area of frictional contact with the bow of the boat is kept to a minimum so as to minimize frictional resistance to longitudinal movement in the loading and unloading of the boat with respect to the trailer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat guide device of the character described which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, attractive in appearance and durable in use.

Other objects features and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a boat trailer equipped with an improved bow guide and support members embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the boat trailer with bow guide and support mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof, with portions broken away to illustrate construction details;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale to further illustrate mechanical details; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral l0 designates, generally, a bow guide and support mechanism secured in its position of use between the longitudinal framework I-beams l1, 12 of a boat trailer T of the type, for example,'illustrated and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,138, issued Jan. 4, 1972. The I-beams l1, 12 of the trailer T converge at the forward end whereat they are secured, such as by welding to each other and to an ordinary forwardly extending hitch mechanism 13.

The rear ends of the trailer framework I-beams 11, 12 'have secured thereupon further rearwardly extending, spaced, parallel wooden chock members 14, 15, respectively, supported from underneath by a wheel assembly or bogie 16. Welded or otherwise transversely secured to and between the rearward extensions of the framework I-beams ll, 12, and somewhat rearwardly of the wheel assembly 16, is a U- channel member 17, the open side of which faces downwardly. Secured within opposite end portions of the U-channel member 17 as by U-bolts 18 are substantially right-angular, tubular elbow members 19, 20, the outer ends of which are directed upwardly at each side of the trailer framework and wheel assembly whereat they join with respective upstanding tubular guide posts 21 and 22. As illustrated in FIG. 3, short upper end portions of the tubular guide posts 21, 22 are bent slightly outward to each side, as indicated at 21a, 22a, respectively. A cylindrical cap 23, preferably formed of a synthetic plastic material, is friction fitted over the upper ends of each of the tubular guide posts 21, 22.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is affixed to the trailer framework I-beams l1, 12, between the bow guide and the support mechanism 10 and the hitch mechanism 13 thereof, a generally U-shaped, forwardly and upwardly extending bow stop member 24. As is hereinbelow more particularly described, the tubular guide posts 21, 22, the bow guide and support mechanism embodying the invention, and the bow stop member 24 serve to guide and position a boat to be trailered upon loading and unloading.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4-and 5, the bow guide and support mechanism 10 comprises a V-block member 25, preferably of wood, the ends of which, at their underside, are cut or otherwise formed with angular recesses 26 defining shoulders 27 which seat upon respective framework I-beam members ll, 12. The lower end of the V-block member 25 is received snugly within a U-shaped channel member 28 supported transversely above and between the lower web portions lla, 11b of the framework I-beams l1, l2 whereat they are bolted in place at each end as by bolts 29. To further support and secure the V-block member in place, the U-channel member 28 is transversely drilled near each end to receive through bolts 30 extending through aligned bores in said V-block member. The upper V- shaped surface of the V-block member 25 is capped with an inverted, shallow, generally U-shaped slide surface member 31 secured in place along each side such as by staples 32. Preferably, the slide surface member 31 is formed of a tough synthetic plastic material having a low coefficient of sliding friction. Secured against the rear surface of the V-block member 25, as by through bolts 33, is a tubular guide member 34, centrally bent to define an obtuse angle of somewhat lesser included angle than that defined by said V-block member. As is best illustrated in FIG. 4, the tubular guide member 34 is so symmetrically arranged in its relative disposition with respect to the V-block member 25 that the apex portion thereof is somewhat below the apex of the included angle defined by said V-block member. The somewhat lesser included angle of the tubular guide member 34 with respect to that of the V-block member 25 moreover is such that its outwardly extending arm portions 35, 36 rise above upper surface portions of said V-block member near the outer ends thereof. It is also to be noted that the outwardly extending arm portions 35, 36 extend substantially beyond the outer ends of the V-block member 25. These outer end portions of the tubular guide member 34, moreover, are covered with friction-fitted synthetic plastic sleeves 35a, 36a, respectively, capped at their outer end with friction-fitted and cemented in place cylindrical end caps 37, 38 respectively. The plastic sleeves 35a, 36a, by virtue of their low coefficient of sliding friction and because their tubular shape provides minimal contact with the keel of a boat being loaded if sufficiently misaligned so as to ride up upon one or the other of the outwardly-extending arm portions 35, 36, insures that the boat will immediately slip downwardly into proper alignment along the center of the V-block member 25. It will thus be apparent that the boat guide device embodying the invention permits a substantially greater range of boat misalignment, particularly during loading operations than heretofore possible, while at the same time simplifying and rendering the loading operations substantially less critical.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, this form is presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bow guide and support mechanism for boat trailers of the type comprising a trailer framework having chock means along its length for supporting a boat to be trailered, the improvement comprising; auxiliary chock means comprising a V-block member adapted to be transversely secured to the trailer framework near the front end thereof and a cylindrical guide member centrally bent to define an obtuse angle of somewhat lesser included angle then that defined by the V-block member, means for securing said cylindrical guide member against one side of said V-block member in symmetrical relation with respect thereto with its apex portion below the apex of the included angle of said V- block member and so positioned that outwardlyextending arm portions of said cylindrical guide member project upwardly of respective outer surface portions of said V-block member defining said obtuse angle, said outwardly-extending arm portions of said cylindrical guide member extending substantially beyond the transverse outer ends of said V-block member at each side of the trailer to serve as extended guide means for centering the bow of a boat to be trailered upon said V-block member when being loaded.

2. A bow guide support mechanism for boat trailers as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical guide member is formed of metal tubing, and a pair of synthetic plastic sleeves friction-fitted over said outwardlyextending arm portions of said guide member for minimizing sliding friction thereover.

3. A bow guide support mechanism for boat trailers as defined in claim 2, wherein said V-block member is formed of wood and wherein said outer surface portions of said V-block member defining said obtuse angle are covered with sheet synthetic plastic material presenting a low coefficient of sliding friction.

4. A bow guide support mechanism for boat trailers as defined in claim 3, including a cylindrical end cap secured in place over the outer end of each of said outwardly-extending arm portions of said cylindrical guide member. 

1. In a bow guide and support mechanism for boat trailers of the type comprising a trailer framework having chock means along its length for supporting a boat to be trailered, the improvement comprising; auxiliary chock means comprising a V-block member adapted to be transversely secured to the trailer framework near the front end thereof and a cylindrical guide member centrally bent to define an obtuse angle of somewhat lesser included angle then that defined by the V-block member, means for securing said cylindrical guide member against one side of said V-block member in symmetrical relation with respect thereto with its apex portion below the apex of the included angle of said V-block member and so positioned that outwardly-extending arm portions of said cylindrical guide member project upwardly of respective outer surface portions of said V-block member defining said obtuse angle, said outwardly-extending arm portions of said cylindrical guide member extending substantially beyond the transverse outer ends of said V-block member at each side of the trailer to serve as extended guide means for centering the bow of a boat to be trailered upon said V-block member when being loaded.
 2. A bow guide support mechanism for boat trailers as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical guide member is formed of metal tubing, and a pair of synthetic plastic sleeves friction-fitted over said outwardly-extending arm portions of said guide member for minimizing sliding friction thereover.
 3. A bow guide support mechanism for boat trailers as defined in claim 2, wherein said V-block member is formed of wood and wherein said outer surface portions of said V-block member defining said obtuse angle are covered with sheet synthetic plastic material presenting a low coefficient of sliding friction.
 4. A bow guide support mechanism for boat trailers as defined in claim 3, including a cylindrical end cap secured in place over the outer end of each of said outwardly-extending arm portions of said cylindrical guide member. 